Amelia: four storybook syllables that shrink to Millie

Where Amelia comes from and why Australia loves it

Amelia most likely grew out of the old Germanic element amal, usually explained as "work" or "industrious" — the same root that gave names to an early medieval royal house, the Amali of the Ostrogoths. The modern spelling took shape later, and over the centuries Amelia has also been read alongside the Roman family name Aemilia, which is why some baby-name books translate it as "rival" or "eager". Either way, the name has a sense of energy and effort baked into it: an Amelia is someone who gets on with things.

In the English-speaking world the name arrived with the Hanoverian royal family in the 18th century. Princess Amelia, the youngest daughter of King George III, made it fashionable at court, and in 1751 Henry Fielding published his novel "Amelia", whose patient, warm-hearted heroine helped fix the name in the popular imagination.

In the 20th century one person above all gave the name its adventurous streak: the aviator Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Thanks to her, Amelia sounds a little brave — a name for someone who looks at the horizon and wants to go further.

Today Amelia is one of the best-loved girls' names in Australia. Through the 2010s and into the 2020s it has sat near the very top of the birth registrations in most states, regularly trading the leading spots with only a handful of other names. It was also the number one girls' name in England and Wales for several years in a row, so it feels familiar wherever English is spoken. Popularity hasn't worn it out, though; it still sounds gentle rather than trendy, and it ages beautifully from a toddler to a grown woman.

Nicknames and pet names for Amelia

• Millie — The cosy everyday form, and the one many Australian families reach for first. Bright and bouncy, it suits the playground, the dinner table and a best friend shouting across a park.
• Amy — A short, classic alternative that keeps the opening sound of Amelia. Often chosen by children themselves once they start school and want something quick to write.
• Mimi — A baby-talk favourite from the toddler years, frequently used by grandparents and older siblings long after the child has grown out of it.
• Melly — A softer, sing-song pet name built on the middle of the name — affectionate and slightly teasing, mostly used at home.
• Lia — Taken from the end of Amelia; a modern, minimalist nickname that some families prefer because it sounds grown-up and light at the same time.
• Amelia — The full name for the important moments — the school roll, a birthday card, the cover of her very own book, and the slightly stern "Amelia, come here, please" when needed.